Segmental grate-bar.



C. R. WAlD.

SEGMENTAL GRATE BAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1915.

1,175,094. Patented M r. 14, 1916.

CALVIN R. WAID, 0F BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

SEGMENTAL GRATE-BAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

Application filed May 28, 1915. Serial No. 30,991.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALVIN R. Wan), a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Birmingham, in'the county of J efferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Segmental Grate-l3ars,' of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in grate bars formed by a plurality of segments or units comprising each a fire head and a base and which are assembled in a novel manner. and base of each segment are cast integral and the improved means for assembling the segments to form the bar consists of a pair of side straps tied together at intervals by bolts inserted between the bases of segments, which bases are preferably reduced to provide bolt spaces and also tapered to facilitate their ready insertion between the side bars.

One feature of my invention relates particularly to the shape given the bases of the segments. The lower ends of these bases are tapered as viewed from the end of the bar and are reduced with reference to the upper portions of the bases as viewed from the side of the bar, this latter arrangement provides the vertical spaces designed to receive the tie bolts for the side bars between and to permit the segment bases to be lifted up and withdrawn from the bar without interfering with such bolts.

My invention further contemplates providing a novel means for fastening the segments in assembled position, such means consisting in the provision of alining side notches in the bases of the several segments and mounting arched plates in the alining notches along each side of the composite bar, such plates being arched in vertical cross section and adapted to be drawn together by their tie bolts and expanded against the segment bases until their top and bottom edges positively engage the top and bottom edges of the notches and give a firm but light bracing connection which holds the grate bar rigid.

A further feature of my invention is to adapt the arched brace plates to form longitudinal ventilating channels between them and the segment bases to thereby counteract a tendency of the bar to warp under excessive heat.

'My invention further contemplates in- Preferably the fire head creasing the prevention against over heating in the segment bases by providing the latter in each side face with vertical grooves and forming registering transverse air channels or ventilating passages which intersect the grooves and permit the air to flow up between and longitudinally through the bases of the segments.

A further advantage arising from the design of my bar segments is that I reduce to a minimum the number of diflerent parts required to build up the bar, for the several intermediate segments are all made reversible and interchangeable and the end segments carrying integral cast trunnions are also duplicates and all parts are designed so that they may be cast without the use of cores or split patterns to thereby simplify and reduce to a minimum the cost of manufacture of the bar. In making the segments reversible it is essential that they should be symmetrical with reference to a vertical transverse central plane, which results in the segment bases having equal spacing shou1- ders or ofisets on each side by means of which I dispense with right and left handed segments and I require no blank segments for building up the bar.

My invention further comprises the novel details of construction and arrangement of parts, which in their preferred embodiment are hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is aside elevation of a grate bar constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2 showing a segment partially inserted between the arched side plates. Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 with the segment driven home and interlocked with the side plates.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings in its preferred embodiment only and as shown the bar comprises a series of intermediate segments which are all similar and interchangeable and which each comprise an arched fire head 10 cast integral with a base 11 which is off set equi-distantly on each side from the fire head and which is provided with a bottom extension 12 of lessthickness than the base 11 and preferably tapers downwardly in by opening 17 and groove'lG into'two ofiwidth. he side edges of the base 11 and its extension 12 are provided with shoulders 13 and let, which are formed by side notches in the base portion of each segment. The bottom end of the extension 12 is sharply tapered at 15 and a vertical groove 16 extends centrally and longitudinally along each side face of the base portion upwardly toward the fire head until it terminates at a ventilating opening 17 through the lower middle portion of the fire head 10. This 7 opening 17 has roughly the shape of a triangle w'ith its corners rounded and its lower corner projects well into the base portion 11 of the segment so that the latter is divided set shoulders which alone engage and serve to space the assembled segment bases. At

an intermediate. point in the base and inter move it independently from the side bars in i the manner hereinafter described.

The grooves 16 of the abutting faces of adjacent segments, as seen more fully in Fig. 2, W111 register and form vertical ventilating channels extending upwardly between each adjacent pair of segments. As seen in Fig.

1, the reduced widths ofthe base extensions 12 provide vertical transverse passages between them which serve to additionally ventilate the segments and, as above stated, to

provide recesses forthe reception of the.

cross bolts 20 by means of which the retaining side plates or bars 21 are held together and in interlocked engagement with the segment bases. The end segments are similar to the intermediate segments with the eX- ception that on one side face thereof a boss 22 is cast thereon and integral with this is a cast trunnion 23. The base portionof these end segments differs from that of the intermediate segments in that it has a side enlargement at an intermediate point to provide for a transverse bolt hole therethrough for the end bar retaining bolt 20. The enlargement is offset on the same side as the boss and trunnion, leaving the inner side face of the segment similar to that of the adjacent segment. lar end segments and reversing their trunni'onsI form the ends of the bar without re quiring special castings for right and left hand end segments. One or more of the intermediate segments are provided'with integral shaker arms24 formed by an extension By providing two simiconnection to a shaker bar (not shown), in any well understood manner.

' The fastening means for the segments comprise side bars or plates 21 and these are preferably formed by rolled metal plates shaped slightly concavo-convex in vertical transverse cross section and adapted to be tied together at various points by the cross bolts 20. These bars have their concave faces inturned so as to provide notonly a longitudinal ventilatingjrchannel between their'inner faces and the'segment bases opits bolts into positive interlocking engagement with the shoulders 13 and 1a of the segment bases- I v In assembling the bar the side, plates 21 are first bolted loosely to the' eiid segments; the several intermediate segments are then inserted'b'etween the side bars; the'intermediate bolts are inserted; and all boltsare then drawn tight, thereby clamping the wholebar together and interlocking its parts to form a rigid structure. The advantage of having the bases taper. in side elevation'is that by this means I provide what I term-a quick repair bar, as, in'the event of the breaking of or in ury to a segment, I can remove it by'either splitting it and letting it fall through between plates 21,0-r chippingofi" the shoulders lfi when the base-can be drawn upwardly from between V i the plates 21, and a repair segment can be inserted in the bar to replace it by driving its tapered base in between side bars in the manner shown in Fig'.- 3 until the latter snaps, into place in theside notches. Such repairs can be made without removing the I of its lower end 12 and being adapted for posite them, but also to so dispose the bar that it isadapted to be spreadby tightening so bar from the furnace orentir'ely withdrawing the fire.

One feature of with my end segments is that they are so designed as' to be capable of being'cast integrally without coresand without split pat? terns" and no machine work is required. It

will be noted in the manufacture of my bar that only three patterns are required, one

for the intermediate segment, one for the shaker arm segments, and one fortheend segment. The concave side straps or plates advantage in connection provide a much lighter and better ventilated bar than where heavy solid side bars are used and they lend themselves particularly to provide an interlocking means for the segment bases which will prevent rattling 1' and which, beingmore flexible than a solid bar, will line them up without requiring the machining of the -side notches" in the bases 1 Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is v V '1. In a sectional grate bar, a ser es of segments having bases with side notches which are disposed in alinement, arched plates seated in said notches, and means to draw said plates inwardly into the notches and spread their top and bottom edges into engagement with top and bottom walls of the notches, substantially as described.

2. In a sectional grate bar, a series of segments having bases with side notches which are disposed in alinement, arched plates with their concave faces turned inwardly which'are seated in said notches, and means to tie said plates together to hold the bar segments interlocked thereby, substantially as described.

3. In a sectional grate bar, a plurality of units, each formed in a single piece and each having a fuel supporting head and a spacing base, alining notches on each side edge of said bases forming longitudinal channels along each side of the bar, a metal plate which is curved transversely to its length and seated in each channel with its concave wall inturned, and cross connections which pass through the bar and plates and are adapted to draw the plates together against the bases and spread their top and bottom edges into bracing engagement with the top and bottom walls of the notches.

l. In a sectional grate bar, a series of segments having bases, alining notches on each side, of said bases forming longitudinal channels along each side of the bar, an arched metal plate seated in each channel with its concave wall inturned, said channels having undercut top and bottom walls with which the top and bottom edges of said plates when spread apart are adapted to interlock, and cross connections which pass thr ugh the bar and plates and are adapted to draw the plates together against the bases and spread their top and bottom edges into interlocking and bracing engagement with the undercut top and bottom walls of the notches.

5. In a sectional grate bar, segments comprising each an integral fire head and a base, the bases being adapted to abut in assembled position to space the fire heads, grooves disposed in the sides of the bases and arranged in alinement on each side, side bars adapted to fit in said side grooves and interlock the segment bases in assembled position, the side bars being shaped to pro 'ide longitudinal ventilating passages extending between them and the side walls of the bases, and said bases having vertical ventilating passages formed between their abutting faces and having longitudinal alining openings which register with and are disposed in a line which intersects the vertical passages, substantially as described.

6. In a sectional grate bar, segments com prising each an integral fire head and base, the bases being adapted to abut in assembled thereof and which is offset equi-distantly at each side of the fire head and bottom end of the base, side retaining members, shoulders on the segment bases adapted to interlock with said members, and cross connections inserted between the segment bases and below their abutting portions, substantially as described;

8. In a sectional grate bar, segments comprising integral fire heads and bases, the

end segments having integral trunnions cast thereon, alining side notches provided in the end and intermediate segments, side bars adapted to seat in said notches, end bolts which pass through the end segment bases and engage said side bars, and intermediate bolts which connect the side bars and which are interposed between the reduced lower ends of the segment bases, said intermediate segment bases being reduced throughout their lower portions to form transverse bolt receiving spaces having substantially par allel side walls.

9. In a segmental grate bar, a segment cast integrally and comprising a fire head and a base, the base being off-set equi-distantly on each side of the fire head and being widest at its upper portion and reduced in thickness in its lower portion and having its side edges relatively inclined to taper downwardly, and a notch in each side edge, substantially as described.

10. A grate bar segment comprising an integral fire head and base, the base being oiiset equihstantly on each side of the fire head and having its lower portion of reduced thickness and having its side edges downwardly tapering, notches in the side edges of its base, and vertical ventilating grooves extending up each side face of the base and opening through the upper portion thereon on each side of the fire head, substantially .as described.

11. A grate bar segment comprising an integral fire head and base, the base being offset equi-distantly on each side of the fire head and having its lower portion of reduced thickness and having its side edges downwardly tapering, notches in the side edges of its base, and vertical ventilating grooves extending up each side face of the base and opening through the upper portion thereon on each side of the fire head, said fire head having a transverse opening at the upper end of said described.

12. A grate bar segment comprising an integral fire head and base, the base being thickest at its upper end and reduced in its lower portion in thickness and having its side edges downwardly tapered and notched, the bottom side edges below the notch being sharply tapered inwardly, substantially as described.

13. In a sectional grate bar, a series of grooves, substantially as segments having abutting bases which have 1 their side edges downwardlyv tapered and notched, side retaining arched bars adapted to engage in the side notches of the segment bases and to spring apart for the insertion of said tapered bases between them, and

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the 7 Washington, D. 0.

between and below the abutting portions of segments comprising fire heads and bases having notched side edges which taper downwardly and which are disposed in alinement, arched side plates adapted to. engage in said notches and hold the segment bases in interlocked abutting'position, and cross connections for said plates which pass,

intermediate segments. e

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CALVIN R. vVAID. /Vitness:

NoMm l/Vnnsn.

Commissioner of Patents, 

